As tax season approaches in Eastern Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, accounting firms from Hamburg to Philadelphia are bracing for their busiest period. But while you’re focused on deadlines and client returns, cybercriminals are planning their own busy season. One that targets your firm’s most valuable asset: client data.
The stark reality: Accounting firms face an average of 900 cyberattack attempts per week during tax season, representing a 300% spike compared to non-peak periods. For Accounting Firm IT Eastern PA operations, this isn’t just a statistic. It’s a clear and present danger that requires immediate attention.
Why Eastern PA Accounting Firms Are Prime Targets
Your accounting practice in the Lehigh Valley handles exactly what cybercriminals crave: Social Security numbers, tax returns, payroll data, and complete business financials. The reason is simple. Few industries handle the sheer volume of sensitive financial data that accounting firms do.
During tax season, Eastern PA accounting firms become digital treasure troves. Every email exchange potentially contains tax file numbers, bank details, or complete identity packages. High-risk information such as financial accounts, passwords, and identity credentials is electronically transmitted between accounting firms, tax service providers, tax preparation services, and their clients.
The timing makes it worse. What makes ransomware so devastating is its timing. Attackers often strike right before tax deadlines or during busy audit seasons when you’re most vulnerable and most likely to pay. When your Hamburg or Allentown-based firm is processing hundreds of returns with April 15th looming, a ransomware attack can completely shut down operations.
The Real Cost of a Breach for Professional Services
The financial impact of a cybersecurity breach extends far beyond immediate repair costs. For professional services organizations (including legal, accounting, and consulting firms), the cost of a data breach is even higher, with an average cost of $5.08 million. The average cost of a data breach reached an all-time high in 2024 of $4.88 million, a 10% increase from 2023.
For Eastern PA accounting firms, these costs break down into several categories:
- Detection and response expenses
- Lost business during downtime
- Regulatory fines and compliance costs
- Reputation damage and client loss
- Legal fees and notification costs
A mid-sized CPA firm is finalizing thousands of tax returns days before filing deadlines. A staff member unknowingly clicks a phishing email. Within minutes, all client data (tax returns, payroll records, audit files) becomes inaccessible. The damage extends beyond lost data. It threatens the firm’s survival.
Current Cyber Threats Targeting Accounting Firms
Sophisticated Phishing Campaigns
Phishing remains one of the biggest cyberthreats facing accounting firms today. These attacks have evolved far beyond obvious spam emails with poor grammar. The IRS has identified a specific threat: “new client” scams where cybercriminals pose as potential clients.
With the 2024 tax season quickly approaching, fraudsters are impersonating real taxpayers seeking help with their taxes, using emails to try obtaining sensitive information or gain access to tax professionals’ client data. These emails often reference current tax season issues and can appear completely legitimate.
Modern phishing attacks targeting Eastern PA accounting firms include:
- SMS phishing (smishing) to trick recipients into clicking on malicious links
- Voice phishing (vishing) using fake calls from “financial institutions”
- AI-generated communications that mimic trusted contacts
- Targeted spear-phishing campaigns customized to accounting professionals
Ransomware Attacks
In 2025, accounting firms are facing a cyber threat landscape unlike anything in years past. Ransomware attacks have surged, and CPA firms, tax preparers, and bookkeeping services are now high-value targets. Ransomware remains one of the most formidable threats to accountancy practices in 2025.
A recent case study demonstrates the devastating impact: In 2024, a mid-sized accounting firm in the Southeast became a cautionary tale for the industry. The attack came just 48 hours before the April tax filing deadline. Within 12 months, the firm closed its doors.
Business Email Compromise (BEC)
Business Email Compromise (BEC) is a sophisticated scam that targets businesses, particularly in the financial sector. Bad actors with greater skill can intercept email traffic to and from your firm and make requests in the same style and tone as clients.
Remote Work Vulnerabilities
Many accounting firms have transitioned to remote or hybrid work models without implementing adequate security measures. Home networks, personal devices, and public Wi-Fi connections create multiple attack vectors that cybercriminals can exploit.
Federal Compliance Requirements: More Than Just Good Practice
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) Obligations
Eastern PA accounting firms must understand that cybersecurity isn’t optional. It’s federally mandated. The Gramm Leach Bliley Act (GLBA), also known as the Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999, requires financial institutions to develop and implement steps to keep their customers’ personal information private and secure. It’s important to note, the GLBA does apply to CPA firms.
Under this law, tax and accounting professionals are considered financial institutions, regardless of size. This means your 5-person practice in Hamburg faces the same federal requirements as large Philadelphia firms.
Written Information Security Plan (WISP) Requirements
The Safeguards Rule of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) requires financial institutions to have a written information security plan (WISP). However, federal law requires all professional tax preparers to create and implement a data security plan.
As a part of the plan, the FTC requires each firm to: Designate one or more employees to coordinate its information security program. Identify and assess risks to customer information in each relevant area of the company’s operation and evaluate the effectiveness of the current safeguards for control.
The IRS takes WISP compliance seriously. Cyber insurance refuses to pay because the firm failed to maintain a current Written Information Security Program (WISP) or perform an annual cybersecurity risk assessment.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
The consequences of ignoring GLBA requirements are severe. GLBA violations can potentially lead to civil and criminal liability. The GLBA contemplates civil penalties that include fines of up to $100,000 per violation, while a company’s directors and officers can be personally liable up to $10,000 per violation.
In addition, criminal charges can be brought under Title 18 of the U.S. Code, with a maximum prison term of five years.
Why Traditional IT Approaches Fall Short
The Expertise Gap
Internal cybersecurity specialists are expensive to compensate and, perhaps worse, very difficult to find. Small to mid-sized accounting firms in Eastern PA often lack dedicated IT security staff, leaving them vulnerable during their most critical operational period.
It’s no wonder that the IRS’s 5293/4557 Written Information Security Policy (WISP) suggests security training at least once per year. We recommend four times per year for tax professionals.
The Human Element
Unfortunately, the most common role that is fooled is partner. Admin, Staff, Seniors, and Managers are generally more acutely aware of the need to protect your firm than the partners and owners may be. This creates a unique challenge for Accounting Firm IT Eastern PA operations where decision-makers may inadvertently become the weakest link.
Modern Solutions for Eastern PA Accounting Firms
Managed Detection and Response (MDR)
Managed detection and response combines cutting-edge technology with human expertise to monitor, detect, and respond to cyberthreats against your organization in real-time and around the clock. For Eastern PA accounting firms, MDR services provide enterprise-level security without the need to hire dedicated security personnel.
Key benefits of MDR for accounting firms include:
- 24/7 monitoring, threat hunting, cloud security, endpoint detection and response (EDR), and incident response solutions
- Real-time threat detection and automated response
- Expert security analysts monitoring your systems continuously
- Rapid incident containment and remediation
A real-world example demonstrates MDR’s effectiveness: When properly implemented, MDR services can detect and isolate threats within the first week of installation, preventing potential mass data loss or breaches.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
The new version of the WISP includes several new information updates since the first version came out. This includes highlighting best practices for implementing multi-factor authentication for any individual accessing any information system.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA): Implementing MFA adds an extra layer of security, making it more difficult for attackers to gain access to sensitive systems, even if they obtain login credentials.
Secure Email and File Sharing
Email is inherently insecure for the exchange of sensitive financial documents. Once an email is sent, a firm has little to no control over where it ends up, possibly forwarded, intercepted or left in an insecure inbox.
Eastern PA accounting firms need:
- Encrypted email systems for client communications
- Secure file-sharing platforms for document exchange
- Email authentication protocols to prevent spoofing
Comprehensive Backup and Recovery
Regular backups: Implement a robust data backup strategy, storing backups securely, preferably offline or in a separate cloud environment. This is especially critical during tax season when data loss could be catastrophic.
Building a Proactive Security Culture
Employee Training Programs
Employee training and awareness: In addition to new employee training, regular security awareness training for all employees should be conducted to educate a firm’s workforce about cybersecurity threats, company security policies and best practices.
Training should cover:
- Recognizing phishing emails and suspicious communications
- Proper password management and MFA usage
- Safe remote work practices
- Incident reporting procedures
Regular Security Assessments
According to data published by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), every quarter approximately 100 UK-based accountants report data breaches attributed to cyber attacks. Regular security assessments can identify vulnerabilities before they’re exploited.
Incident Response Planning
Develop and regularly practice an incident response plan so that, if all else fails, employees know how to react in case of a security incident. This can significantly mitigate lost time, revenue and reputational impact in the event of a cyber attack.
Choosing the Right IT Partner for Eastern PA Accounting Firms
Local Expertise Matters
Accounting Firm IT Eastern PA requires understanding of local business dynamics, regulatory environments, and the specific challenges facing practices in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas. A local IT partner can provide:
- Rapid on-site response when needed (under 30-minute response times)
- Understanding of local compliance requirements
- Relationships with regional regulatory bodies
- Knowledge of area-specific cyber threats
Comprehensive Service Delivery
Modern accounting firms need more than basic IT support. Look for providers offering:
- 24/7 MDR services with human analysts
- Proactive security monitoring and threat hunting
- Compliance-ready solutions (GLBA, WISP)
- Scalable cloud solutions that grow with your practice
- Regular security training and awareness programs
Smart Investment vs. Fear-Based Selling
The best IT security partners focus on smart, strategic investments rather than fear tactics. They should:
- Provide clear ROI comparisons between security investments and potential breach costs
- Offer right-sized solutions for your firm’s specific needs
- Focus on proactive prevention rather than reactive fixes
- Maintain transparent communication about threats and solutions
The Bottom Line for Eastern PA Accounting Firms
Tax season’s approach means cybercriminals are already planning their attacks on Eastern PA accounting firms. Cyberattacks will continue to rise. Regulators will not accept ignorance or intent as a defense. Clients will not tolerate delays, excuses, or breaches of trust. Accounting firms that prepare now will survive. Those that delay will face financial and reputational ruin.
The math is simple: investing in proper cybersecurity measures costs significantly less than recovering from a breach. The financial toll of a successful ransomware attack on an accounting firm is staggering, with many firms never fully recovering.
For Accounting Firm IT Eastern PA operations, the choice is clear: implement comprehensive cybersecurity measures now, or risk becoming another cautionary tale. With federal compliance requirements, escalating threats, and client trust at stake, proactive security investment isn’t optional. It’s essential for survival.
Your clients trust you with their most sensitive financial information. Honor that trust by ensuring your firm has the security infrastructure to protect what matters most. Because when hackers come knocking this tax season (and they will), you’ll be ready.
Your Next Steps
Don’t wait for tax season to start. Begin implementing robust cybersecurity measures now:
- Assess your current security posture with a comprehensive risk evaluation
- Implement MDR services for 24/7 threat monitoring and response
- Develop and document your WISP to meet federal compliance requirements
- Train your staff on current cyber threats and best practices
- Partner with local IT experts who understand accounting firm needs
The clock is ticking. Tax season brings opportunities for growth. Make sure cybersecurity threats don’t steal them away.